Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has underscored the role of active citizenship in the advancement and sustainability of Ghana’s democracy.
Speaking at the Ashesi Citi Dialogue on the topic ‘Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship and Nation Building’ held on Thursday, November 14, Dr Pumpuni emphasised that democracy thrives not merely through the existence of political systems but through the active, informed participation of its citizens.
Dr. Pumpuni stressed that Ghana’s democracy can only achieve its full potential if citizens understand and exercise their rights and responsibilities within the democratic framework.
His speech revolved around the idea that active citizenship is not passive but rather a dynamic process that requires constant engagement, vigilance, and accountability.
“What are political parties built to do? They are supposed to aggregate our interests so that in a democracy, it is not the Athenian democracy where we stand at the market and say one thing or the other, it is a way of organising citizens to be able to put some ideas out there.
Now, somehow, that has become almost the excuse for anything that you can do if you are part of a party that is negative, anti-state and anti-government.
“Parties are supposed to be positive in a democracy. For me, citizenship imposes a certain bundle of rights and responsibilities. It is a term of right because if you say you are a citizen, certain rights accrue to you the same way you have duties and so for any democratic society to thrive, you have to have active citizens who are aware of their rights and responsibilities and actually exercise them daily and if that is missing, then you have a problem.”
Ashesi Citi Dialogue: Actively participate in shaping Ghana’s public policy – Dzogbenuku tells youth
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